US 12,246,149 B2
Catheter insertion apparatus with continuous visible flashback
Benjamin Horst, Lititz, PA (US); Mark Spinka, Jenkintown, PA (US); and Jeffrey Kuehn, Schuylkill Haven, PA (US)
Assigned to TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED, Morrisville, NC (US)
Filed by TELEFLEX MEDICAL INCORPORATED, Morrisville, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/339,296.
Application 17/339,296 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/027463, filed on Apr. 9, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/833,477, filed on Apr. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0290913 A1, Sep. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 25/06 (2006.01); A61M 25/02 (2006.01); A61M 25/09 (2006.01); A61M 39/02 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01); A61M 25/10 (2013.01)
CPC A61M 25/0693 (2013.01) [A61M 25/09 (2013.01); A61M 25/0015 (2013.01); A61M 25/0169 (2013.01); A61M 25/0172 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0293 (2013.01); A61M 25/0618 (2013.01); A61M 25/0631 (2013.01); A61M 25/065 (2013.01); A61M 2025/09116 (2013.01); A61M 2025/1056 (2013.01); A61M 2039/0235 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter insertion apparatus, comprising:
a needle including a needle body connected to a needle hub, the needle body having a longitudinal bore and a distal needle tip configured to pierce a wall of a blood vessel, and the needle hub having an internal flow passage in fluid communication with the longitudinal bore of the needle body;
a catheter configured to removably fit over the needle body, the catheter including a catheter body connected to a catheter hub;
a housing including an elongated housing body connected to the needle hub, the elongated housing body having a longitudinal guidewire track and an elongated lumen in fluid communication with the internal flow passage of the needle hub;
a guide assembly slidably mounted to the elongated housing body and including a guidewire having a distal guidewire tip, the guide assembly configured to cooperate with the guidewire track, and the guidewire operable to move between a retracted position in which the distal guidewire tip is located within the needle body and an extended position in which the distal guidewire tip is located outside of the needle body;
a continuous flashback chamber defined by the elongated lumen of the elongated housing body, the continuous flashback chamber configured to allow visualization of a continuous flow of blood during insertion of the distal needle tip into the blood vessel; and
a flow diverter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the flow diverter is disposed within a distal end of the guidewire track and configured to restrict the continuous flow of blood from entering the guidewire track, and the distal end of the flow diverter is disposed in the needle hub and has a slanted surface configured to divert the continuous flow of blood from the internal flow passage of the needle hub into the continuous flashback chamber and away from the guidewire track.